Has a toothache just started and you don’t know what to do? In this guide we explain what to do about a toothache (also called odontalgia) to ease it until your appointment, and when you should see an emergency dentist. It usually comes on suddenly and intensely, and it is hard to control.
It is caused by stimulation of the nerve root, triggered by mechanical, thermal or chemical agents, which our brain perceives very intensely.
Toothache normally shows up as discomfort in one specific area; however, if the pain gets worse, it can spread to nearby areas such as the ear or the head and even cause severe headaches.
Nerve fibres detect pain in response to cold stimuli, so when you eat or drink something very cold you feel the tooth sensitivity associated with toothache. There are several possible causes, and it is important to identify which one it is in order to tackle it. If you want to know why a tooth hurts, we explain it in detail in our article on the causes of toothache.
What to do depending on the cause of your toothache
What you should do depends on where the pain comes from. These are the most common causes of toothache and how to act in each case:
- Tooth decay: this is the most common infectious disease associated with toothache. The pain gets worse as the decay spreads to the deeper parts of the tooth (dentine or pulp). Sometimes decay leads to a dental abscess that irreversibly damages the pulp and causes extreme sensitivity and deep pain; in these cases root canal treatment is usually needed to save the tooth, so don’t put it off.
- Active periodontitis: it shows up as bleeding, which indicates that the disease is active. Active spots cause inflammation in the area due to irritating agents, as well as pain.
- Dental trauma: a knock or an accident can crack or fracture the tooth, and even cause the loss of one or more teeth. Trauma is one of the most painful situations. If you have broken or knocked out a tooth, follow our guide on what to do with a broken or knocked-out tooth.
- Bruxism: also known as teeth grinding or clenching. It is usually caused by stress and, if it goes on over time, it ends up causing tooth pain due to muscle overload and the tension placed on the temporomandibular joint. We explain it in detail in what bruxism is and how it is treated.
- Teething: in babies and children, teeth coming through cause pain because the gum tissue breaks.
- Infections: generally speaking, any kind of oral infection triggers toothache, sometimes spreading to nearby areas.
Toothache: what to do until your appointment
There are several options when you have a toothache, but the most advisable is to see your trusted dentist so they can check your mouth and teeth and carry out the diagnostic tests needed to apply the right treatment. The dentist will examine your mouth, find the cause of the pain and treat it in the most appropriate way.
In the meantime, some remedies can ease it, such as applying cold to the outside of the face where the pain is, as this helps reduce inflammation. Rinsing with warm salt water is also advisable, as it acts as an antiseptic and helps reduce infection. Finally, you can take oral painkillers to help relieve the pain.
Also, keep these tips in mind:
- Gently use dental floss around the area: sometimes a piece of food trapped between the teeth is what is pressing and causing the pain.
- Take the painkiller you usually use, following the leaflet, but never put an aspirin directly on the gum: it can burn the tissue.
- Don’t take antibiotics on your own: only the dentist can assess whether you need them.
- Avoid chewing on that side and avoid very cold, very hot or hard foods until the dentist sees you.
Remember that these remedies only bring temporary relief: even if the pain goes away, the cause is still there.
When should you see an emergency dentist for toothache?
Don’t wait for your check-up: book an appointment as soon as possible if you notice any of these signs:
- Swelling of the gum or face.
- Fever or feeling generally unwell along with the pain.
- Pain that doesn’t ease with your usual painkillers or that wakes you up at night.
- Pus or a persistent bad taste in the area.
- Pain after a knock, or a tooth that is broken or loose.
If you have toothache, don’t wait for it to get worse. We see patients from Vélez-Málaga, Torre del Mar and the whole Axarquía area: book an emergency dental appointment in Vélez-Málaga and we will find the source of the problem.
